Attack Husky gives up her bark

Now we know why state Democratic party spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan has been so quiet lately. Since U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd announced that he won't seek re-election, her constant torrent of barbed press releases have slowed to a trickle.

The Attack Husky is trading life on the often cutthroat campaign trail for the more genteel world of a political staffer. As of Monday, Flanagan will be working in Dodd's Hartford office.

"The opportunity to work for Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo and the party during this incredibly exciting election cycle has been a fantastic one, and an experience from which I've learned a lot,'' Flanagan said in a press release.

Yet even in her swan song, Flanagan couldn't pass up the opportunity to slip in a snarky comment or two about the Republicans.

"While

"I'll miss the back-and-forth with my good friends Chris Healy, Jim Barnett, Ed Patru, and the rest of the gang on the other side of the aisle, I won't miss the constant buzz from my BlackBerry indicating a Google alert for any one of the 563 candidates from all parties running for various offices throughout the state, the general stress and anxiety associated with campaigns, or watching Linda McMahon make cameos in WWE storylines and Rob Simmons pull yet another teabag out of his pocket."

For the time being at least, Justin Kronholm, executive director of the state Democratic party, will handle public relations.